# For American conservatives disenchanted with Romney, what's your move? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 20, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292 "2012-09-20T17:58:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/1 "2012-09-20T17:58:16Z")
I’ve been wondering: if there are some American conservatives on the SDMB who think that Romney perhaps isn’t such a great candidate, what is your most likely course of action come Nov. 6? Poll to follow. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/2 "2012-09-20T22:31:23Z")
Wow, this isn’t getting much traction at all. I really am curious; no snark whatsoever intended towards GOP voters whether you like Romney or not. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/3 "2012-09-21T14:42:32Z")
I guess there really just aren’t enough conservatives here on the SDMB to float this. Oh, well. Thanks to the two (so far) people who responded! ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/4 "2012-09-21T14:52:06Z")
Strange. I can think of at least two conservatives who are very active in this forum, and certainly would have picked one of the top two choices. I wonder where they are? ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/5 "2012-09-21T18:08:07Z")
You left off the option of not voting at all. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/6 "2012-09-21T18:19:50Z")
> [@Enkel](#): > > You left off the option of not voting at all. That’s the fourth option in the poll. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/7 "2012-09-21T21:14:13Z")
Well, the poll didn’t have an option where you get to spout talking points in order to feel superior to ignorant liberals. That does seem to be some conservatives’ sole schtick here. I’ve been a libertarian most of my life (in fact, my college — Hillsdale College – was so Libertarian, it didn’t accept any state or federal aid). I’ve voted Dem and 'Pub (I’m not naive enough to think a vote for a third party would do much). I’ll vote for the best human being with the best plan, which was Obama in '08. _(Now, if the John McCain from 2000 had been running…)_ One of my best friends was the treasurer for the state Republican Party. He recently got mad at the other righties in our hit-the-bar-on-Friday-night-and-solve-the-world group. He said they had blinders on, and revealed that he was going to vote for Obama who has a better grasp of economics and more integrity … and sheepishly added “…like I did four years ago.” ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/8 "2012-09-21T22:40:59Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Well, the poll didn’t have an option where you get to spout talking points in order to feel superior to ignorant liberals. “…another Obama term is too terrible to contemplate” isn’t good enough? 😛 Right now, among self-identified conservatives in the poll, 10 of 14 say they’re voting for Obama. That seems unlikely. Methinks some non-conservatives are having a bit of fun. Or can’t read. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/9 "2012-09-21T23:09:04Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > “…another Obama term is too terrible to contemplate” isn’t good enough? 😛 > > Right now, among self-identified conservatives in the poll, 10 of 14 say they’re voting for Obama. That seems unlikely. Methinks some non-conservatives are having a bit of fun. Or can’t read. I dunno, I do think there are a lot of Conservatives on the board who have no problem with Same sex marriage, believe in evolution and global warming, a woman’s right to choose. You know, the fringe Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/10 "2012-09-22T01:19:10Z")
I’m not American _or_ Conservative but I still couldn’t help myself. I had to vote in this poll. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/11 "2012-10-03T17:52:44Z")
Token conservative checking in. I’m voting for Romney because another Obama term is too terrible to contemplate. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/12 "2012-10-03T17:59:10Z")
There are lot of supposed conservatives in this poll checking “Obama’s got my vote.” Any chance some of you in that category might contribute a post to this thread? As I’m typing, it’s 12 of 18 conservatives voting for Obama, among those who responded to the poll. I just can’t believe it. Are there any conservatives here intending to vote for Obama? Willing to step forward? ---
**Author:** ![Bartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bartman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartman)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/13 "2012-10-03T18:14:51Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I dunno, I do think there are a lot of Conservatives on the board who have no problem with Same sex marriage, believe in evolution and global warming, a woman’s right to choose. You know, the fringe Republicans. Evidently that describes me. And I’m getting increasingly infuriated with my party. If you asked what we wanted in say '96, I think you would have gotten something a lot like we have now. Heath Care - Obamacare is a right wing plan. It preserves choice, a market role, and still should provide more or less universal health care. It isn’t perfect, but why we are supposed to hate it I don’t understand. Tax & Budget - We’ve reached historic low taxes. And we had a budgetary grand compromise on the table. We could have rolled back government. We could have seriously addressed the real budget bombs (Social Security and Heath & Welfare). For some reason, we declined. Defense - There are problems here. But by and large things are going good. We have a large and powerful military. We can act in defense of our interests anywhere in the world. We’ve lost some focus… but that is mostly the Republicans fault anyway. Other Issues - We won all the 2nd amendment questions. And a lot of the other “little” things (free trade, unionization, economic issues). To the point that the Dems won’t even bring them up. Yet to read the NRA material, you wouldn’t realize we won. Social Issues - I’m on the Libertarian side of the party. So I would love to see gay marriage, want to keep a separation of church and state, am satisfied with the state of abortion (rare but legal). I realize this puts me out of right wing mainstream. I haven’t decided who I’m going to vote for. But I can’t imagine voting for Romney. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/14 "2012-10-03T19:07:49Z")
I consider myself to be socially liberal and fiscally conservative. It’s why I voted in this thread as a “conservative.” But I will not vote for Romney, and it would take a lot of evidence to convince me to vote for a Republican. Most “conservative” Republicans these days are of the social variety and that doesn’t allign with my views at all. As for those who are Republican and call themselves fiscal conservatives, well, your party can keep claiming anything it wants to, but actions speak louder than words. Republicans haven’t been fiscal conservatives since…well, ever? Maybe the 1960s? But if you, specifically, want to call yourself a fiscal conservative, then fine. But show me evidence that goes beyond “balanced budget” sloganeering lip service. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/15 "2012-10-03T19:50:04Z")
Here’s the deal, I’m conservative but I’m Eisenhower conservative. Decide what you want, but pay for it. Don’t try to shrink government by playing fast and loose with the good name of the United States. Keep one eye on industry, because they’ll try to screw you and everyone else. Invest in the country when it needs that investment. The Constitution means something, and government exists primarily to secure the rights of the people against all tyrants. By my lights, Obama is significantly more conservative than any candidate the Republicans have run since G.H.W.Bush. Of course, by my lights, both the people responsible for the debt ceiling crisis and any elected official who said anything about “making Obama a one term president” being on their legislative goal list is one step from being an outright traitor. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/16 "2012-10-03T21:16:13Z")
Thanks for the responses, guys. I know this place is often overwhelmingly a liberal echo chamber (yes, I’m guilty of this, too). I really do appreciate reading your thoughts, especially since, once upon a time, I was a registered Republican myself. > [@Enderw24](#): > > Republicans haven’t been fiscal conservatives since…well, ever? Maybe the 1960s? Maybe since Eisenhower? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/17 "2012-10-04T01:20:51Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > As for those who are Republican and call themselves fiscal conservatives, well, your party can keep claiming anything it wants to, but actions speak louder than words. Republicans haven’t been fiscal conservatives since…well, ever? Maybe the 1960s? But if you, specifically, want to call yourself a fiscal conservative, then fine. But show me evidence that goes beyond “balanced budget” sloganeering lip service. Goldwater was wrong on some issues but he was a fiscal conservative. You might argue against his fiscal policies but they were real. The nonsense about supply-sides, trickle-downs, Chicago schools, and Laffer curves arose in the late seventies. ---
**Author:** ![Unix\_Geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unix_geek/32/19368_2.png) [@Unix\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unix_Geek)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/18 "2012-10-04T03:02:04Z")
It has been posted many times, but here it is again. \*Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they’re sure trying to do so, it’s going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can’t and won’t compromise. I know, I’ve tried to deal with them. - Barry Goldwater \* I have been a registered Republican all of my life. In college I worked at my state’s party headquarters making fund raising phone calls. But I cannot abide the anti-science troglodytes that have taken control of the party. Give me Warren Rudman, Christine Todd Whitman, Susan Collins, etc. And yes I am voting for Obama which in any election before 1992 would have been considered a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/19 "2012-10-04T03:46:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Goldwater was wrong on some issues but he was a fiscal conservative. You might argue against his fiscal policies but they were real. > > The nonsense about supply-sides, trickle-downs, Chicago schools, and Laffer curves arose in the late seventies. The thing that annoys me the most about the Laffer curve is that it’s been shown to be true in the real world–at a certain point, lowering taxes increases revenues. That point is, given our current Frisch elasticity and other factors, is around a 68% for the top bracket. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292/20 "2012-10-04T03:59:04Z")
> [@Unix\_Geek](#): > > And yes I am voting for Obama which in any election before 1992 would have been considered a Republican. I feel the same way. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-american-conservatives-disenchanted-with-romney-whats-your-move/635292.md?page=2)